Prepaid Internet

KPN Telecom, in the Netherlands, introduces a prepaid Internet service. You can buy prepaid-cards for 5 or 10 Euro.  This allows for 500 or 1000 minutes of surfing per 4 months (it is their 2-monthly billing cycle)! You must use their special ISP: Direct Internet. You can order the card (only?) online and you are up and running within three days. You will also receive a confirmation letter.

They seem to have created a lot of procedures around this product, which I think invalidates the idea of prepaid. For it would be useful if I arrive in a country and am able to go online within minutes, not three days! It does not seem to be geared to this user group. It is more a way to sell a fixed amount of internet minutes and hope that people won’t use it and cash in the left overs. The offer seems to be coupled to your fixed number, so it is not suitable for people on the road. But this is a bit unclear on their website. All in all it is a bit confusing, but is seems to be only a new pricing model for their restricted subscription-less ISP.

Come to think of it. It is not without a subscription as you must have a fixed line and thus already have a subscription with KPN through PSTN.

[inspiration: Webwereld]